Corvette owners gather for annual ‘Blessing of the Vettes’

The fourth annual “Blessing of the Vettes” was held Saturday in Wildwood.

Several Corvette clubs from around Central Florida were represented. The largest contingent of Corvette owners came from the Villages Vettes club which hosted the annual blessing.

Village of Piedmont resident Mike White behind the wheel of his Vette.

Mike White, past president of the Villages Vettes club, said the event keeps getting bigger and bigger every year with 177 corvettes registered this year.

The blessing of the Corvettes was conducted by Pastor Norman Lee Schaffer who also acted as emcee for the event which also had an auction and raffle. All proceeds go to local charities. After the blessing, the crowd was entertained by the Villages Twirlers and Drum Corps with a medley of patriotic routines.

The display of corvettes included a 1959 model owned by John Edwards of the Village of Hadley which he has owned for the past forty years.

Bob Vehmeier, president of the Touch of Glass Corvette club and his 2017 Vette.

Bob Vehmeier, president of the Touch of Glass Corvette club proudly displayed his 2017 bright red Corvette. He has owned nine corvettes since 1972 and his 2017 model is the only one that he has bought new. Numerous other Vettes included a 1998 corvette which was a pace car at the Indianapolis 500.

The Corvette Club of Marion county was represented by Joe Marhefki and 13 others from his club. His club is also holding a Corvette show in Ocala on Nov. 19 and would welcome anyone who is interested in attending.

Villager Gary Clarke in his wife’s ’74 Corvette.Maximus, the Official mascot of the Villages Corvette club with his owner Susan Fingard of the Village of Pennecamp.John Edwards of the Village of Hadley shows off his 1959 Corvette.Joe Marhefki of the Marion County Corvette club and his 2012 Corvette.